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Solvay’s specialty polymers resist aggressive Metrex healthcare surface disinfectants
Alpharetta, Ga., Feb. 17, 2021
Solvay and Metrex, a leader in broad spectrum surface disinfection products, announced the results of a recent study on the compatibility of several advanced Solvay healthcare polymers with Metrex disinfectants. The joint study included CaviWipes™ 2.0, Metrex’s newest product, and evaluated the chemical resistance of Solvay’s high-performance polymers and their ability to withstand strong disinfectants used to combat the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs).
“As aggressive disinfectants take an increasing toll on traditional plastics, medical device and equipment manufacturers are looking for higher performing plastics that withstand repeated exposure to these chemicals,” said Jesal Chopra, vice president of Healthcare, Environment & Consumer for Solvay. “Solvay offers a broad range of high-performance polymers that give medical OEMs greater confidence in the ability of their products to deliver a longer life, avoid warranty issues and reinforce brand value. Our collaboration with Metrex aims to raise the bar for the durability, safety and reliability of devices exposed to frequent disinfection.”
Six Solvay specialty polymers were tested against three Metrex healthcare surface disinfectants, CaviWipes™, CaviWipes™ Bleach and new CaviWipes™ 2.0, which is fully qualified for the EPA’s rigorous Emerging Viral Pathogen claim1. The results revealed that Solvay’s Radel® polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), Udel® polysulfone (PSU), Veradel® polyethersulfone (PESU), Ixef® polyarylamide (PARA), Kalix® high-performance polyamide (HPPA), and Amodel® polyphthalamide (PPA) polymers all meet performance acceptance criteria for retention of impact strength, tensile strength and color after repeated exposure to Metrex disinfectants. On average, all six Solvay materials exhibited over 90 percent retention of impact and tensile strength and a Delta E color difference of less than 2.
“We continue to enhance our surface disinfectants to meet new healthcare challenges, such as those created by the COVID-19 pandemic, across the entire Infection Prevention Circle of Care,” said Jesiska Tandy, lead material science engineer, Metrex. “We partnered with Solvay to evaluate the effects of these next-generation disinfectants on a range of specialty polymers, which had impressive results. The study clearly illustrates how our two companies are working together to help medical device manufacturers make better-informed material choices, and how we are helping hospitals derive the greatest value from their equipment while protecting patients and staff.”
® Amodel, Ixef, Kalix, Radel, Udel, and Veradel are registered trademarks of Solvay.
™ CaviWipes, CaviWipes Bleach and CaviWipes™2.0 are trademarks of Metrex.
1 CaviWipes™ 2.0 has an EPA’s Emerging Viral Pathogen claim against enveloped, large and small non-enveloped viruses.
Solvay and Metrex, a leader in broad spectrum surface disinfection products, announced the results of a recent study on the compatibility of several advanced Solvay healthcare polymers with next-generation Metrex disinfectants CaviWipes™, CaviWipes™ Bleach, and new CaviWipes® 2.0.
About Solvay
Solvay is a science company whose technologies bring benefits to many aspects of daily life. With more than 24,100 employees in 64 countries, Solvay bonds people, ideas and elements to reinvent progress. The Group seeks to create sustainable shared value for all, notably through its Solvay One Planet plan crafted around three pillars: protecting the climate, preserving resources and fostering better life. The Group’s innovative solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices, health care applications, water and air purification systems. Founded in 1863, Solvay today ranks among the world’s top three companies for the vast majority of its activities and delivered net sales of €10.2 billion in 2019. Solvay is listed on Euronext Brussels (SOLB) and Paris and in the United States, where its shares (SOLVY) are traded through a Level I ADR program. Learn more at www.solvay.com.
About Metrex
Metrex Research, LLC (Metrex) works to provide value-added infection prevention products and services in global healthcare environments. Metrex offers a complete line of high-quality enzymatic detergents, high-level disinfectants/ sterilants, surface disinfectants for use in hospitals, liquid medical waste disposal products, hand hygiene products, eye shields and many other infection prevention products. Metrex products are specifically designed for healthcare markets such as acute care, primary care, ambulatory surgery centers (ASC), EMS/Fire/Police, extended care, and the public sector. For more information, visit https://www.metrex.com/en-us.
